Rhythm ToolBox

Rhythm ToolBox - Blues, Technic and Improv

﻿Calling all teachers who want to have fun and create laughter in the lesson Evaluate rhythmic aptitude with your new and/or transfer students in the first lesson with the Rhythmic Aptitude Assessment

Experience rhythm with your students in real time before reading rhythm notation

Bridge the gap between traditional technique and improvisation

Enlist your students in Basic Training for functional triad skill building in twelve keys with the Basic, Gospel and Twelve-Bar Blues

Motivate your students with the Gospel Blues and the sound of the Amen (plagal) cadence

Work magic with the primary triad cadence when your student“Meets the Lion”

Transform triads into functional fun

Customize lesson materials to meet the needs of each student

Midi and audio files included

BEYOND THE METHOD BOOK

Blues, Technic and Improv Solutions

Five packets and three structures transform traditional technique into functional fun. Mastering triads develops improvisational skills and promotes creativity. A Scope and Sequence Chart illustrates Basic Training Structures and their corresponding Pattern Extensions. Each packet develops all structures in a sequential technical progression. An audio or midi download is available for the Basic Blues and Twelve-bar Blues files as well as the Cycle of Fourths Boogie on Down and Amen Cadence. The midi file for “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” is found in FunTime Popular Piano and can be purchased from Keys to Imagination.

Enlist in Basic Training to build up your chops. Structures for basic training exploration: Blues – Basic, Twelve-Bar and Gospel, Primary Triad Cadence with “Meet the Lion” and The Cycle of Fourths. Each structure evolves into patterns for real time exploration and creativity.

Play, create and combine patterns with the Twelve-Bar Blues …and understand chord function in the process. Four levels of Bass Lines and Riffs to develop an internal pulse, stimulate improvisation and promote creativity.

Explore the Gospel Blues …and move through chords and inversions with facility as the plagal cadence takes on a new dimension.

Meet the Lion and transform the Primary Triad Cadence….train your “lion” to rotate, syncopate, arpeggiate, break up and down, and do broken octaves. No time for the Lion to sleep!

Jump on your Cycle of Fourths and “Boogie on Down”

Jazz around with the “Amen” plagal cadence progression and the Cycle of Fourths

Testimonials

“I’ve received all my materials and they are beyond belief – how many years have I wanted something like this, and what a deal for the money!” — Dr. Cindy Goodloe, Clemson University

Descriptions with Free Downloads

Rhythmic Aptitude Assessment

Experience rhythm in real time without reading notation

Assessment of rhythmic aptitude in students of all ages

Evaluation tool for the transfer student

Teacher Guidelines for the Free Download included

Audio and midi “Basic Blues” accompaniment files included

Blues, Technic and Improv Orientation

Learn triads or review triads in this section – and then have fun with them! Two different Blues formats makes this section versatile for everyone. The “Basic Blues” format allows the beginning student to start playing the Blues once the location of “C” and “F” are established. The “Twelve-Bar Blues” format requires more skill and is appropriate for those beginning students who have some familiarity with PentaScales and Triads. The 8.5 x 11 reproducible Teaching Resources include the following:

The Gospel Blues and the Amen (plagal) cadence: Movin’ Up to Second and Movin’ Down from Second

“Meet the Lion” and the primary triad cadence

Pattern Extensions

The Twelve Bar Blues: Flat Seven

Seven Gospel Blues rhythm patterns – Movin’ First

Broken Octaves and Arpeggio Introduction: root position

Lion Training: broken octaves and arpeggios

The Lion Does First: seven suggested rhythm patterns

Cycle of Fourths: “Boogie on Down” for first inversion practice

Cycle of Fourths: Cycle in first inversion and say Amen with the “Gospel Amen Blues”

Twelve-Bar Blues audio and midi accompaniment loops: Twist

Cycle of Fourths audio and midi accompaniment files for “Boogie on Down” and the “Gospel Amen Cadence”

Blues, Technic & Improv 4​Combo

Functional triad proficiency with common tones and all positions. TheTwelve-Bar Blues, the “Gospel Blues” (plagal cadence), the “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (primary triad cadence), and the Cycle of Fourths can begin on any position and move fluently from one position to the next and from one chord to the next = Combo. The 8.5 x 11 reproducible Teaching Resources include the following: